You'd Be Surprised is a song written by Irving Berlin

Irving Berlin

Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...

 in 1919.

The first verse introduces the shy Johnny and the woman Mary who finds him to be an exceptional lover, although apparently no one else ever has. She explains his appeal in the first chorus. By the second verse, Mary's talking-up of Johnny has resulted in him now being very popular with the ladies. The song leaves any questions about Mary's status unanswered.

The song was recorded by a number of artists, including Billy Murray

Billy Murray (singer)

William Thomas "Billy" Murray was one of the most popular singers in the United States in the early decades of the 20th century...

. Five years later, Murray would record a similar-themed tune called "Charley, My Boy

Charley, My Boy

"Charley, My Boy" is a song written by Gus Kahn and Ted Fiorito in 1924. The sheet music was published for voice and piano. The refrain is four lines, of which the first two are:...

", which included an instrumental referback to this one. The song was revived by Olga San Juan

Olga San Juan

Olga San Juan was an American actress, dancer and comedian, mainly active in films during the 1940s.She was born in Brooklyn, New York to Puerto Rican parents...

 in the 1946 Bing Crosby

Bing Crosby

Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....

/Fred Astaire

Fred Astaire

Fred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute...

 film, Blue Skies

Blue Skies (film)

Blue Skies is a 1946 Hollywood musical Technicolor comedy film, released by Paramount Pictures and starring Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Joan Caulfield, Olga San Juan and Billy De Wolfe, with music, lyrics and story by Irving Berlin; most of the songs were recycled from earlier works. The film was...

. Additionally, rock band White Hassle recorded a cover of the song for their 2005 album Your Language.

The song was also memorably recorded by Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....

- with alternate lyrics. It is available on the Marilyn Monroe compilation album titled "Anthology."

Part of first verse:

Johnny was bashful and shy;

Nobody understood why

Mary loved him.

Everyone wanted to know

How she could pick such a beau

With a twinkle in her eye

She made this reply

Parts of various choruses:

He's not so good in a crowd

But when you get him alone

You'd be surprised;

He's kind of scared in a mob

But when he takes you home

You'd be surprised.

He won't impress you

Right from the start

But in a week or two

You'd be surprised.

Part of second verse:

Mary continued to praise

Johnny's remarkable ways

To the ladies

And you know advertising pays

Now Johnny's ne'er alone

He has the busiest phone

Almost every other day

A new girl will say

External links

• Recording by Billy Murray